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HomeCommercial CodeDiv. 3Ch. 5§ 3501 Presentment Definition

§ 3501 Presentment Definition

Commercial Code·California
AI Summary·Official Text·Key Terms·Related Statutes·References
AI SummaryVerified

§ 3501 Presentment Definition

Key Takeaways

  • •Presentment means asking for payment on a check or similar document.
  • •You can ask for payment in person, in writing, or electronically.
  • •If someone asks you to pay, they must show the document and prove they have the right to ask for payment.
  • •You can refuse to pay if the document is missing important details or if the request doesn’t follow the rules.

Example

You write a check to your friend for $50, and they take it to your bank to cash it.

Your friend is making a 'presentment' by asking the bank to pay the check. The bank can ask your friend to show ID and the check. If everything is correct, the bank will pay. If the check is missing your signature, the bank can refuse to pay.

AI-generated — May contain errors. Not legal advice. Always verify source.

Official Source
View on CA.gov

§ 3501 Presentment Definition

(a) “Presentment” means a demand made by or on behalf of a person entitled to enforce an instrument (1) to pay the instrument made to the drawee or a party obliged to pay the instrument or, in the case of a note or accepted draft payable at a bank, to the bank, or (2) to accept a draft made to the drawee. (b) The following rules are subject to Division 4 (commencing with Section 4101), agreement of the parties, and clearinghouse rules and the like: (1) Presentment may be made at the place of payment of the instrument and shall be made at the place of payment if the instrument is payable at a bank in the United States; may be made by any commercially reasonable means, including an oral, written, or electronic communication; is effective when the demand for payment or acceptance is received by the person to whom presentment is made; and is effective if made to any one of two or more makers, acceptors, drawees, or other payors. (2) Upon demand of the person to whom presentment is made, the person making presentment shall (A) exhibit the instrument, (B) give reasonable identification and, if presentment is made on behalf of another person, reasonable evidence of authority to do so, and (C) sign a receipt on the instrument for any payment made or surrender the instrument if full payment is made. (3) Without dishonoring the instrument, the party to whom presentment is made may (A) return the instrument for lack of a necessary indorsement, or (B) refuse payment or acceptance for failure of the presentment to comply with the terms of the instrument, an agreement of the parties, or other applicable law or rule. (4) The party to whom presentment is made may treat presentment as occurring on the next business day after the day of presentment if the party to whom presentment is made has established a cutoff hour not earlier than 2 p.m. for the receipt and processing of instruments presented for payment or acceptance and presentment is made after the cutoff hour. (Repealed and added by Stats. 1992, Ch. 914, Sec. 6. Effective January 1, 1993.)

Last verified: January 23, 2026

Key Terms

Presentmentdemanddraweecommercially reasonable meansindorsement

Related Statutes

  • § 2514 Draft Document Delivery Rules
  • § 4503 Documentary Draft Presentation Rules
  • § 7501 Negotiation Of Documents Of Title
  • § 7505 Endorsement Liability Limitation
  • § 7506 Right To Indorsement

References

  • Official text at leginfo.legislature.ca.gov
  • California Legislature. Commercial Code. Section 3501.
View Official Source